St. Clair students rehearse for their annual Christmas show

By Travis Conant

With the Christmas season, St. Clair College’s music theatre performance students get into the holiday spirit with a 1930s themed Christmas show.

For the past 13 years, St. Clair College has performed a Christmas show. The show is part of the music theatre program and preparations for this show begin in the summer before the school year starts.

According to a St. Clair College media release,  Katherine Kaszas is the Program and Artistic Director and said every year a professional creative team works with the third year music theatre performance to devise a production from the ground up.

“This years show adds a festive spin to some of the greatest hits of the jazz age, as well as some beloved holiday favourites, to create extravagant production numbers and choral favourites, for a perfect addition to any holiday calendar,” said Kaszas in the press release.

Kaszas said one of the things that makes this year’s performance different than other years is the 1930s theme.

“We have the orchestra on stage and often they are in the pit,” said Kaszas. “I think the biggest difference is that each year we have different performers.”

Kassandra DeLong is a third year music theatre performance student and has performed in the Christmas show all three years. DeLong said she did not get into music theatre until she was in ninth grade but has been performing since she was 8. She also said the Christmas show is basically the third year showcase.

“Katherine will usually email all of the third year students in the summer and get us thinking about the theme and what songs we want to sing,” said DeLong. “Than in the early stages in September we all come and pitch a few different ideas based on a story line and than we have to audition for the songs.”

DeLong said people should buckle up this year because the show is a giant party on the stage.

The Christmas show is on Dec. 7 at The Chrysler Theatre on 201 Riverside Dr. W. The event takes place December 7-8, 13-14 at 7:30 p.m and December 15th at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students.